‘As elections approach, the government will need to demonstrate its willingness to uphold the rights of all citizens, whatever their political views.’ The international human rights watchdog pointed to Malaysia’s heavy-handed repression of peaceful protestors, inadequate legal reform and government-sanctioned discrimination against the LGBT community.

‘The Malaysian authorities should respect the fundamental rights of non-discrimination and equality, and stop demonizing people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity,’ said Boris Dittrich, former Dutch MP who helped bring gay marriage to The Netherlands in 2001, and advocacy director for the LGBT program at Human Rights Watch.